Drip-pan alarm.



P. F. DUFFY.

DRlP PAN ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. 1916.

1 72,782 Patented J my 16, 1918.

13 HMIFIIH %6?4 Qwfl n ATTORNEY INVENTOR PATRICK F. DUFFY, OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRIP-PAN ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed October 16, 1916. Serial No. 125,928.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK F. DUFFY, a subject of the King of Great Britian, residing at Newburyport, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drip-Pan Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drip-pan alarms and more particularly to an alarm for attaching to the drip pan of a refrigerator whereby the signal bell associated with the alarm will be sounded when the water in the drip pan reaches a predetermined height.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an alarm having a float disposed within the drip pan and connected to a lever for closing an electric circuit whereby the alarm will be sounded when the float is raised by the water.

A further object of this invention is in the provision of an alarm which consists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction, but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character are ordinarily subjected.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention, in which Figure 1 is a top grammatic; and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention, and in which like characters of re'fer ence designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the drip pan commonly employed be neath a refrigerator for receiving the Water resulting from the melted ice. It is my intention to construct the signal apparatus in a manner that will permit the same to be employed with any preferred drip pan, and I, therefore, employ a cover 2 of rectangular formation having the large circular opening 3 and a smaller circular opening 4. Each of the openings 3 and 4 are in longitudinal alinement and communicate with each other through the passage way 5. Arranged upon the top surface of the cover 2 adjacent one plan view partly diaedge thereof, is a push button 6 to which wires 7 of an electric circuit 8 are connected. A source of current B, preferably one or more storage batteries, is connected in the usual manner to the signaling bell 9.

Beneath the button 6 and attached to the bottom surface of the cover 2 is a hinge 10 having one leaf projecting into the opening 4, and this leaf receives a circuit closing lever 11 provided with the striker arm 12. The striker arm 12 is of a length sufficient to permit the end of the same to contact with the button when the lever is swung upon the hinge 10. Fastened to the lever 11 is a rod 13 to the end of which is fastened the float, in the form of a spherical hollow member 14. Connected to the bottom of the cover 2 at the intersection of the openings 3 and d is a retaining yoke 15 embracing the rod 13 thereby limiting downward movement of the float 14:.

In operation, the device will be assembled by placing the cover upon the top edge of the drip pan 1 and disposed beneath the refrigerator in the usual manner. The signal bell and battery maybe mounted at any convenient point where the bell may be readily heard. When the water in the pan rises to a predetermined height, the buoyant float 14: will rise with the water and thereby swing the lever 11 on the hinge 10 and bring the striker arm 12 into contact with the push button 6, thus closing the circuit and sounding the alarm.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that a very simple and durable alarm has been provided, the details of which embody the preferred form. I desire it to be understood, however, that slight changes in the minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of. the claim hereunto appended.

What is claimed is:

An alarm for a drip pan comprising a removable cover for the drip pan having a large and a small opening, the said openings being longitudinally spaced apart and communicating through a restricted portion, a retaining yoke secured to the bottom of the cover and at a point directly beneath the point of intersection of the openings, a lever pivotally mounted on the bottom of the closure and movable in the smaller of the said large opening; the SZLlClflOilt being movable" through the said opening, its lowermost movement being restricted by the said are:

taming y k engagee le W es -id red);-

the said largeppening permitting the said float to be extended zibovethe said Closure. 10 In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in, presence of two witnefises.

PATRICK F. DUFFY.

,Witnesses 7 WILLIAM L. GLYNN,

V T. KELLEHER Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, .byi iddzessinggthe "Commissioner of Eatents,

7 Washington, 19.0." 

